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MAJOR MEDILL. 

Major William H. Medill, of the 8th Illinois Cavalry, 
mortally wounded in pursuing the rebels after the battle of 
Gettysburg, was born in Massillon, Ohio, on the 5th of Novem- 
ber, 1835. In the spring of 1888, the family removed to a 
farm in Pike township, Stark county, Ohio, where he remained 
on his father's farm until he was fifteen years old, when, in 
1850, he went to Coshoction, Ohio, and commenced learning 
the printing business in the office of the Coshoction Republican. 
In April, 1852, he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he took 
a situation as a compositor on his brother Joseph's paper, the 
Forest City — afterwards called the Leader. At the end of six 
months, he took the foremanship of the Leader, which situation 
he held until the fall of 1855, when he removed to Chicago, 
where he joined his brother James in publishing the Prairie 
Farmer. In the fall of 1858, he disposed of his interest in the 
Prairie Farmer, and went to Canton, Ohio, where he established 
the Stark County Republican. He worked hard and faithfully 
to get his new paper on a paying footing ; but his means were 
limited ; the receipts at first were small, and the cash outlay 
considerable ; the promises made to him at the outset, by poli- 
ticians, were not fulfilled, and after six months' effort, not 
realizing the success he anticipated, he sold the paper and 
returned to Chicago. During the short period he owned the 
Republican, it was a pungent and attractive sheet, handsomely 
printed, and filled with interesting matter. In politics, like its 
proprietor, it was radical Republican. 

On his return to Chicago he obtained a situation as a com- 
positor on the Daily Tribune, of which his brother Joseph was 
part owner and editor, and worked at the case from the spring 
of 1859 until the breaking out of the Slaveholders' Great Rebel- 
lion in the spring of 1861. During this period he spent his 
leisure hours in storing his mind wtih useful information. He 



MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 



read history, reviewed his elementary studies, and when the 
war broke out, was spending his evenings in the Commercial 
College of Bryant & Stratton, and in the lyceum of the "Young 
Men's Literary Union," of which he was a zealous and popular 
member. During his boyhood years his education had been 
neglected, and now when he was arrived at manhood, he per- 
ceived the imperative necessity of making up for lost time and 
preparing himself for future usefulness. He desired to be an 
editor of a successful daily paper, and with this object in view, 
was industriously fitting himself for the responsibilities of 
that calling when the neAvs was flashed to Chicago on the night 
of the 14th of April, 1861, that the rebels of South Carolina 
had fired on the United States' fort, Sumter, and had bombarded 
its heroic handful of defenders into surrender. He declared, 
on the instant of the arrival of the sad intelligence, that he 
would volunteer on the first call for men to help revenge the 
insult to the National flag and to crush the parricides that had 
lifted their daggers against the life of the Great Republic. He 
had watched and studied the gathering storm of rebellion for 
months, and had come deliberately to the conclusion that there 
was but one way to deal with the insurgents, and that was to 
grapple them and crush them by military power. He contended 
that there was no other possible cure for the disease, save sabre, 
grape and bayonets. 

The news of the capture of Fort Sumter was published in 
Chicago on the 15th of April. A meeting of young men of the 
Literary Union was called to assemble at Bryant & Stratton's 
Commercial Rooms on the evening of the 17th. Several brief 
speeches were made ; one of them by Major Medill, in which he 
set forth the cause of the Rebellion and its cure, and pledged 
himself to join the first military company that might be raised, 
as a private soldier, in obedience to the promptings of patriotic 
duty. A muster roll was presented, when sixty young men — 
himself included — put down their names. On the next day he 
joined the Barker Dragoons, and soon after found himself doing 
picket and other duty at Camp Defiance, Cairo, where the 
company remained for six weeks. On the 1st of June, Gen. 
McClellan, then recently appointed to command, visited Cairo 



MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 3 

to inspect the troops and fortifications. He was so much pleased 
with Barker's Chicago Dragoons, that he immediately adopted 
them as his body guards, and ordered them to join him at 
Clarksburg, Va., which they did the week after. For the next 
two months, the Chicago Dragoons were actively engaged in 
contests with the rebels. First there was a brisk skirmish at 
Philippi ; next a fight at Buckhannon ; then came a hard fight 
at Rich Mountain, July 8th. On the 11th was the battle near 
Beverly, in which the rebels were routed, losing 200 killed and 
wounded, and leaving 800 prisoners, several pieces of artillery 
and all their baggage in the hands of the Federal troops. In 
this battle the Chicago Dragoons dismounted and fought as 
sharpshooters, doing considerable execution with their revolving 
carbines. Private Medill distinguished himself for dash and 
daring. When the order to charge was given, he was among 
the foremost of his company to open the attack on the enemy. 
The fighting was done Indian fashion — every trooper took 
shelter behind a tree or log, and dodged forward from one to 
the other. In this encounter Private Medill became engaged 
with a Georgian lieutenant. Each was behind a small tree 
about sixty yards apart. The rebel fired first, but missed his 
aim. Medill raised his carbine and fired, but hit the sapling 
behind which the rebel stood partly concealed; he then sprang 
forward, calling on the rebel to surrender or he would let day- 
light through him. The officer threw down his gun and 
handed his sword to his captor, who marched him to the rear, 
feeling proud of the achievement. The sword he brought home 
as a trophy, and it is now in possession of his brother Joseph. 
After the battle of Beverly, the Chicago Dragoons joined the 
pursuit, and helped to give the finishing blow to the enemy at 
Carrick's Ford, where the rebel Gen. Garnett was killed and 
1200 prisoners taken. The remnants of the enemy's force fled 
over the Greenbriar Mountains, vigorously pursued for consider- 
able distance by our troops. The last seen of them they were 
double-quicking it towards Staunton. In a letter, dated Beverly, 
July 16th, he complains that the army had ceased its pursuit. 

We are 12,500 strong, (be writes,) with five batteries of flying artillery. 
The rebs. are utterly demoralized. McClellan ought to pursue them to Staun- 



MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 



ton, and then make a forced march on Richmond, which we could easily cap- 
tore and hold by the aid of the fleet. It would take us but a week. The 
country is full of provisions, and most of the way, the road is good and easy 
to travel. Now is the time to strike vigorously at the secessionists. If I 
commanded this army, the pursuit would certainly be made. I like our Gen- 
eral, but I think he is too cautious ; he lacks boldness and enterprise. 

Though but a private soldier and little skilled in military 
tactics, he exhibited foresight and daring — essential qualities 
for an officer, and with the history of the campaigns in Eastern 
Virginia before the reader, few will deny but that his sugges- 
tions were feasible. 

On the 10th of August, the Chicago Dragoons, having served 
a month over their time, returned home and were mustered out 
of service. After a fortnight's rest and recreation, he resolved 
to re-enter the service of his country for three years or during 
the war ; not that he liked military life, but from the promptings 
of patriotic duty. On the 24th of August, 1861, he applied to 
Gen. Farnsworth for permission to recruit a company for the 
afterwards famous 8th Illinois Cavalry, which, on the 26th, was 
granted, on condition that the company be raised in two weeks. 
The State at the time was covered with recruiting officers, and 
competition for men was sharp ; but taking hold with his accus- 
tomed vigor, before the fortnight had elapsed, he had his com- 
pany filled and sworn into the service for three years. He was 
unanimously elected Captain, and when the field officers came 
to be selected, a majorship was easily within his reach, but he 
declined it on the ground that he would rather be in direct 
command of the men who had joined his company out of friend- 
ship to himself, than to hold a higher and easier command where 
he would be in a measure separated from them. This feeling 
of mutual friendship continued until the day of his death, and 
when the news was made known in the company that their old 
captain was no more, there were few of those bronzed warriors 
that did not weep bitter tears of regret, or make new vows of 
vengeance on the rebels who had deprived them of their beloved 
companion in arms. This feeling of strong attachment grew out 
of no licence he gave them, for he was a strict disciplinarian, 
and insisted upon a full compliance with military rules and 



MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 



orders. But he won their confidence and love by watching over 
their personal comfort, showing them kindness when sick, pre- 
serving their health, defending them against aggressions, and 
in the hour of battle setting an example of coolness and bravery, 
but never recklessly rushing them into danger and destruction. 
By these means he always had the largest, best drilled and 
most efficient company in the regiment. In acknowledgment 
of their confidence and esteem, his company presented him on 
New Year's, 1862, with a handsome sword and a brace of Colt's 
revolvers. 

Refusing to be major at the outset, Gen. Farnsworth made 
him ranking captain, and it happened that for several months 
of the summer and fall of 1861 he was in command of the refri- 
ment, when he performed the duties of colonel to the satisfaction 
of his superiors, and established his ability to command. 

In October, 1861, " Farnsworth's Big Abolition Regiment," 
as the 8th Illinois Cavalry was called by the Potomac army, 
marched passed the White House, 1164 strong, in review by 
the President. It was composed of unconditional Unionists, 
who equally hated slavery and rebellion ; a better or harder 
fighting regiment has not gone to the war, nor has any per- 
formed more service or inflicted greater damage on the enemy. 

The fall of 1861 was spent near Washington, drilling, and 
the winter in Alexandria, as part of the garrison, where the 
regiment was constantly in a quarrel with the military governor, 
Gen. Montgomery, a rebel sympathizer, who took sides with 
the secesh inhabitants, removed the American flag from houses 
owned by rebels, and drove off editors of outspoken Union 
newspapers, and spent his leisure hours in denouncing the 
Abolitionists as beino; the cause of the war. With such a man 
the 8th Illinois could not harmonize. Montgomery succeeded 
in getting the regiment removed from their comfortable quarters 
and sent to camp on a low, wet piece of ground some distance 
beyond Alexandria, where 240 men were soon down with fever 
from the effect of exposure to rain, snow and knee-deep mud. 
Thirty-five brave boys died, and Captain Medill, in his letters 
home, bitterly laments the loss of four of his company — victims 
of the proslavery malice of Montgomery. 



6 MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 

The spring campaign opened early in March, by the sudden 
and unexpected evacuation of the feared and famous Manassas. 
An extract from a letter written by the Major, April 19, 1862, 
may prove interesting : 

* * Well, we have actually taken Manassas without firing a shot. 
Astonishing is it not ? For nine months it has stood as a menace and as a 
stumbling block in the pathway of the army. It was looked upon by many 
as an earthquake standing ready to swallow up all who might venture too 
near its yawning mouth. We have been assured by spies, by deserters, by 
Richmond and New York newspapers, that the country all about Manassas 
was naturally as impregnable as Gibraltar — that it had been converted into 
one tremendous fortification ; the hill-sides being honey-combed with rifle-pits 
and covered with masked batteries. On March 10th, we started for the famous 
stronghold. I will not relate the feelings and talk of the soldiers, except that 
each considered himself a martyr about to be sacrificed for the sake of his 
country. 

The first day's march brought our regiment within eight miles of the world- 
renowned stronghold: to-morrow, the great battle would begin! The evening 
was spent cracking jokes. Oue said, our march reminded him of the fable in 
JEsop, of the tracks that all led into the sick lion's den — none leading out, and 
that he expected no tracks of this army would ever lead towards Alexandria. 
Next morning " boots aDd saddles" sounded, and forward we started, spread 
out like a fan as skirmishers, every minute expecting to run against a masked 
battery, or be blown up by a hidden torpedo or mine. At nine, a halt was 
ordered. My Lieut, Hynes, who is acting Provost Marshal on Gen. Sumner's 
staff, galloped up to our regiment and cried out, Manassas was evacuated two 
days ago, and the rebel army has skedaddled across the Rappahannock! In- 
credulity was on every man's face, but the messenger declared it was true, and 
that Gen. McClellan was then occupying Beauregard's headquarters; that the 
rebels had run off in a panic, that their works of defence were all shams, that 
Gen. Sumner said that they had not numbered 60,000 men. That we all felt 
sheepish you may well imagine. Here was an army of almost a quarter of a 
million held at bay by this handful. For the first time, we began to lose con- 
fidence in our commander. All that Lieut. Hynes told us proved true. When 
we came upon the rebel lines, there was nothing to be seen but an open country, 
dotted over with little, trifling earthworks. The ditches and breastworks were 
poor apologies. I leaped my horse over all the obstructions met, with ease. 

On the top of a point of ground, where we first came upon the plains of 
Manassas, was an earthwork, on which the rebels had planted a number of 
wooden guns. By the way, I observe that some of the New York and Phil- 
adelphia papers deny that any wooden cannon were mounted in any of the 
forts, but I know better. There were a dozen or more in this one fort, as 
nearly every officer of my regiment can testify, for we handled them. 

All the stories you have read about the wonderful strength of Manassas 



MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 



are bosh. I have seen several battle-fields, but never beheld a piece of country 
in Virginia so favorable for a fair, stand-up, give-and-take fight. The strongest 
protection the rebels had was the natural banks of Bull Bud, a small stream a 
few yards in width. We could have flanked them on either wing, and crushed 
them like an egg-shell. Mauassas will go down in history as the biggest hum- 
bug on record. Any time during the past four months it might have been 
taken, if our leaders had been as willing to show the way as the soldiers were 
of following. 

We have given this long extract from Major Media's private 
correspondence, because it relates to one of the most important 
events of the war, described by a close and honest observer. 

The 8th Illinois and other cavalry were ordered to pursue the 
retreating rebels to the Rappahannock. The Illinois troop rs 
had the advance, and Major Medill (then senior captain) com- 
manded the leading squadron. At Bealton's Station he came 
upon a battalion of rebel cavalry, drawn up on a hill-side to 
receive him. The Major promptly brought his front into line. 
and ordered his squadron to charge. Away they dashed on a 
gallop, and when within 100 yards, delivered a well directed 
fire from their carbines. The rebels broke and fled, and then 
commenced an exciting horse race for several miles. The rebels 
scattered, and the Major ordered his men to disperse as skir- 
mishers, after them. The pursuit was continued to the Rappa- 
hannock, where most of the rebels escaped across a bridge, 
which they burned as soon as over. The rebel loss was two 
killed, twenty wounded, and twelve taken prisoners. After this 
gallant little affair, the Illinois cavalry returned to Alexandria 
and embarked for Fortress Monroe. Nothing of interest trans- 
pired after debarking until the battle of Williamsburg, May 5. 
From the dense forests that enveloped the battle-field, the cavalry 
could take no part in the action. After the rebels were de- 
feated, however, the 8th Illinois vigorously pursued the foe in 
his retreat — the Major's squadron leading. About a thousand 
prisoners were captured, mainly by the Illinois cavalry. The 
army of Gen. McClellan moved slowly forward towards Rich- 
mond. On the 18th of May, Major Medill was sent out with 
his battalion on a reconnoisance towards the Chickahominy 
Creek. He got within 12 miles of Richmond, and had a sharp 
skirmish with some rebel infantry and cavalry. He captured a 



MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 



few prisoners and a negro returning to his home from Rich- 
mond, who had newspapers of that morning and letters written 
but a few hours before in Richmond : they described a great 
panic existing in the rebel capital ; the enemy expected that 
McClellan would march immediately on the city ; their army 
was demoralized ; the defenses were defective ; the terrified 
officials were removing the public archives, and no doubt was 
expressed or entertained but the Federal army could march in 
and take the place. This information was promptly placed in 
the hands of Gen. McClellan ; but the golden moment was not 
improved. The battle of Fair Oaks was fought and won, but 
not followed up. The right wing of the army, under Gen. 
Porter, took position at Gaines Mill, and went to fortifying ; the 
Illinois cavalry was pushed forward to Mechanicsville, and per- 
formed picket duty along the Chickahominy, as far north as 
Hanover Court House. On two or three occasions the Major 
pushed his reconnoisances within sight of Richmond. He com- 
plains very bitterly in a letter, dated June 17th, of the gross 
negligence of the regular cavalry under Col. P. St.-G. Cook, 
for allowing his brother-in-law, Gen. J. E. B. Stewart, to pass 
through his pickets and lines to the rear of the army, capturing, 
destroying and burning as he went, and escaping unmolested. 
Cook exhibited no vigilance or energy, but was never court- 
martialed, because he was an aristocrat and a regular. He did 
not start in pursuit for several hours, then took a wrong road, 
and marched slowly. He says if his regiment had been put in 
pursuit of Stewart, they would have given a lively chase, and 
that he never would have had twelve hours' time to build bridges 
across the Chickahominy on which to escape. In a letter, dated 
June 25th, he says : 

Before this reaches you, the long gathering storm-cloud will break. We 
have wasted a month here in inaction. Our army is doing two things: ditch 
digging and dying; the sickness and mortality this hot weather in those marshes 
are terrible. While our army is wasting away, the enemy is rapidly growing 
stronger by means of a sweeping conscription. We are 40,000 fewer for duty 
tli an we were a month ago, and the rebels are 50,000 stronger than they were a 
few weeks since. I have just heard that Stonewall Jackson, with 30,000 men, 
has arrived from the Shenandoah Valley, and taken position on our right, near 
Hanover Court House. If this be so, a battle may take place at any hour. 



MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 



I am disgusted at the way this fiue army is employed. One part is ditch 
digging, and another stands guard over the plantations and property of slave- 
holders, whose sons are in Lee's army, righting us. Our generals will never 
put down this Slaveholders' Rebellion by pursuing a proslavery policy. The 
chief support of the rebellion is derived from the labor of four millions of 
slaves, who supply the Commissary and Quartermaster's Departments of the 
enemy, and support the families of the rebel soldiers besides. We must knock 
away this great pillar of their edifice, else we shall never succeed in putting 
down the revolt. I am not sanguine of the result of the impending battle; 
our boys will make a stubborn fight, but McClellan has waited too long. He 
has neglected his opportunity. Mark my words. 

The next day, sure enough, the first of the bloody scenes of 
seven days' battle began at Mechanicsville ; the day after, 
Gaines. Mill was fought and lost, after a long and terrible con- 
test, in consequence of the neglect of the General-in-Chief to 
reinforce the right wing of his army, which w T as obliged, for 
twelve hours, to resist the whole rebel army. The 8th Cavalry, 
in this battle, did all that was in their power in rallying and 
returning stragglers to the front, charging on the enemy's 
flanks, and finally helping to cover the retreat. The Major 
distinguished himself for coolness and bravery in this as well as 
in the subsequent operations, until the army found itself at 
Harrison's Landing, July 2d, 1862. 

From that time until September, when the 8th Illinois Cavalry 
found itself engaged with the enemy in Maryland, there is little 
personal history to relate. He was much depressed in spirits 
at the result of the seven days' battles, and fearful of foreign 
recognition of Confederate independence. He continues, in his 
letters, to deplore the proslavery spirit and influences that pre- 
vailed at the headquarters of the army. 

When the army withdrew from the Peninsula, the Major's 
reo-iment formed the extreme rearguard — and himself had 
command of the rearmost squadrons. Not a few slaves found 
asylum in that regiment as it fell back to Yorktown, and hosts 
of them owe their deliverance to the Major and his radical 
troopers, who never let slip a chance to relieve the rebel F. F. 
V.'s of this very "peculiar" kind of property. 

Owing to the sickness of the senior officers, the Major was 
the ranking officer, and took command of the regiment on its 



10 MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 

arrival at Yorktown, and continued in command during all of 
the subsequent campaign, in which he greatly distinguished 
himself, frequently receiving the thanks of Gen. Pleasanton, 
the chief of cavalry. 

The 8th Illinois Cavalry reached Alexandria, Sept. 4, 1862, 
but they had scarcely landed before they were ordered to 
Washington, and thence marched direct to Rockville, Md. 
Lee's army had crossed the Potomac after defeating Pope's 
troops, and occupied Frederick City. The old army of Mc- 
Clellan's Avas hastily reorganized and united with the bulk of 
Pope's and Burnside's corps and other troops, and marched at 
once to prevent Lee from seizing Baltimore. The Major's 
regiment led the vanguard of this movement, and on the 9th of 
September became engaged with J. E. B. Stewart's rebel cavalry 
at Damascus and Tenallytown, beating them in each encounter. 
Next day a sharp fight took place at New Market, in which the 
rebel cavalry were severely handled. Soon after, the gallant 
affair at Boonsboro occurred. The place was held by two regi- 
ments of Stewart's cavalry. The Major made a hasty recon- 
noisance, and concluded he could win. He formed his men, 
and placing himself at their head, ordered a charge. Away 
they dashed on a full gallop right into the place, where a hard 
hand to hand conflict ensued ; revolver, sword and pistol were 
freely used on both sides, but the impetuosity and pluck of the 
Illinois troopers carried the day, and the discomfited rebels 
beat a hasty retreat, leaving nearly 200 killed, wounded and 
prisoners in the hands of the victors, besides all their baggage. 
The 8th Illinois lost less than forty men in the engagement. 
In following up the flying foe, a hard fight took place a few 
miles beyond Boonsboro, at Middleton, in which infantry and 
artillery were brought up by both sides. The enemy was de- 
feated, and retreated to South Mountain, where a very desperate 
contest ensued, ending in the defeat of the rebels, in which the 
Major's regiment took a conspicuous part. The rebels fell back 
behind Antietam Creek. This was Sept. 15th. On the 17th 
took place the hard fought battle of Antietam, resulting in the 
defeat of the rebels. The 8th Illinois, under Major Medill, and 
the brigade under Gen. Farnsworth, were employed to support 



MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 11 

an artillery attack on the centre of the rebel position, in order 
to relieve Gen. Burnside from a cross-fire that was consuming 
his men. Those relieving batteries were pushed far forward, 
and completely silenced the troublesome guns of the enemy. 
The Major often afterwards said, that if Gen. McClellan had 
sent forward half of his reserves, under Porter, that lay idle 
all day, the rebel right wing could easily have been crushed, as 
it might have been assailed in front and flank at the same 
moment. McClellan was duly notified of the important heights 
gained by the artillery and cavalry, but he neglected to improve 
the tempting opportunity. After the rebels retreated, the Ma- 
jor's regiment, as usual, was in the advance of the pursuit, and 
picked up a large number of prisoners. 

On the 2d of October, the 8th Illinois had an encounter with 
the rebels, in which the Major exhibited superior strategic as 
well as fighting qualities. His brigade made a reconnoisance 
to Martinsburg, Va., into which they dashed and captured a 
lot of rebels, rescued some Union prisoners, and got a quantity 
of plunder. There was a large rebel cavalry force under Gen. 
Fitzhugh Lee, not far off, that entered the place just as the 
Federal cavalry was leaving it. Gen. Pleasanton placed the 
8th Illinois and a battery of flying artillery, both under Major 
Medill, as the rearguard, which the enemy "pitched into" at 
once. After a running fight for some distance, the Major left 
one gun with his rear squadron, and sent the other five pieces 
forward to a high spot of ground, and had them masked and 
trained to sweep the road. Meanwhile the rearguard and its 
gun took up successive positions and skirmished vigorously. 
The rebels, seeing but one gun, pressed hard after, and tried to 
capture it by a charge. When they came rushing on headlong 
to within a couple of hundred yards of the masked battery, the 
Major gave the signal for his men to clear the road, which was 
instantly done. Whereupon the whole battery opened with 
grape, canister and shell right into their column. The result 
was, that scores of men and horses were piled together on the 
road in a common destruction. While they were in confusion, 
the Major ordered his men to ride into the fields along the road- 
side and pour a volley into their flanks — the Major heading the 



12 MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 

charge himself and emptying the contents of his revolver into 
the broken and flying enemy. The rebel loss was 150 men, 
including prisoners. The 8th Illinois lost but 16 men. The 
remainder of the march back to Sharpsburg was unmolested. 
Gen. Pleasanton highly complimented the Major on the com- 
plete success of this piece of strategy, and for the able manner 
in which he handled the rearguard. It was about this time he 
was promoted to Major — having previously been senior Captain 
of his regiment. 

It was soon after the occurrence last related, that Gen. J. E. 
B. Stewart made the famous raid — measuring the circumference 
of the Potomac army. Several bodies of Federal cavalry Avere 
started in pursuit of the contumacious rebels, among others the 
famous 8th Illinois Cavalry, commanded by the subject of our 
sketch. The greatest difficulty was to find Stewart's track. The 
Major was started on the wrong road, and after traveling some 
twenty-five miles, finally got on the right scent ; but the rebels 
had a long start of him. Away went his troopers and the 3d 
Indiana Cavalry and their battery of artillery, on the gallop. 
Night came on, but the pursuit was kept up regardless of the 
darkness. Over hills and mountains, down into deep valleys, and 
across creeks and ravines, rode the gallant 8th Illinois and In- 
diana boys. A cold rain poured down, adding to the gloom and 
difficulty. The Major seized and pressed native guides to pilot 
the way. With these, and the light of two tin lanterns, he vig- 
orously pushed ahead. When day broke, he learned that the 
enemy was at least fifteen miles in advance, and pushing south 
in the direction of Washington. For twenty-five hours his men 
had been in the saddle, and neither they nor their horses had 
eaten a bite. Many of the latter had broken down, and other 
horses were seized to take their places. A halt for rest and re- 
freshment was ordered of a couple of hours; then "boots and 
saddles" was sounded, and off went the cavalcade again. The 
troopers pushed forward as fast as it was possible to urge on 
their poor jaded brutes. Finally the regiment reached the Mo- 
nocacy where it empties into the Potomac, just as the rearguard 
of Stewart's troopers were fording the river and making their 
escape into Virginia. A few shells were thrown after them, but 



MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 13 

the game had escaped ; and what made it the more provoking, 
within four miles was a strong force of infantry and cavalry that 
knew of their coming, and could easily have stopped their cross- 
ing. The mortification of the Major and his comrades may be 
imagined, but can hardly be described. In this extraordinary 
pursuit the 8th Illinois Cavalry rode a distance of 88 miles in 
thirty-two hours, including all stops and delays. It is needless 
to say that both men and horse suffered severely. 

A few days after this event, the Major obtained a brief fur- 
lough to visit his friends in Chicago. He had not been off duty 
a day for almost fifteen months. On his arrival he was warmly 
welcomed by his friends and acquaintances. The Mercantile 
Literary Union, of which he was an active and popular member 
at the time he joined the army, gave him a generous banquet 
at the Briggs House, and congratulated him on his promotion, 
and his prospects of higher military preferment for worthy and 
gallant conduct. After enjoying the society of friends and re- 
latives for a few days, he hurried back and joined his regiment. 

When the army of the Potomac crossed the river and marched 
to Fredericksburg, the 8th Illinois Cavalry was in the advance, 
skirmishing all the way there. A month afterwards, the great 
battle of Fredericksburg was fought and lost. The Major's 
regiment was an idle spectator of the terrible conflict, and could 
take no part in the fray. The regiment spent the winter doing 
picket and scouting duty in the peninsula between the Potomac 
and Rappahannock rivers, where they made themselves a terror 
to the smugglers and rebel conscript agents. When the 1st of 
January came, the President's proclamation of freedom to the 
slaves of rebels went into effect. The Major celebrated that 
day by taking a battalion of his cavalry, visiting all the planta- 
tions for many miles around, and liberating and bringing into 
camp nearly one thousand " contrabands." The rest of the 
regiment were not idle, but scouted about the country on similar 
business. Before nightfall, King George county, where slavery 
had reigned for 200 years, was free soil ! 

The Major entered into no service with more alacrity and 
hearty zest than in giving freedom to the loyal bondsmen of 
rebels. He did it from motives of humanity for the poor slave, 



14 MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 

and for the purpose of weakening the enemy. He contended 
that from the labor of the slaves the rebels derived their chief 
strength, and that military policy, to say nothing of humanity, 
required that they should be deprived of that great support. 

Early in the month of May, the 8th Cavalry was divided into 
three battalions — one under Major Medill, and another under 
Major Beveridge, and the third under Major Clendenin, and 
sent down the peninsula between the Potomac and Rappahannock 
on a scout to break up smuggling, capture guerillas, and drive 
out the rebel conscript agents. They were gone ten days, 
during which time they seized an incredible quantity of smug- 
glers' goods, burnt 100 boats of every size, from a schooner down 
to a dug-out, made a hundred prisoners of guerillas, captured a 
number of the " conscriptors," and swept Westmoreland, Rich- 
mond, Lancaster and Northumberland of able-bodied, adult 
slaves. When the regiment returned, it brought back a singu- 
lar train, consisting of scores of wagon loads of contraband 
goods, droves of cattle, horses and mules, a hundred cut-throat 
looking prisoners, and over 1500 shouting, singing and praying 
negroes — some mounted on mules, others on their masters' 
wagons, and part on foot. As the cavalcade filed through the 
lines of the army, it was greeted on all sides with loud laughter 
and louder cheers, at the "grand haul" the Illinois troopers 
had made from the secesh. Hundreds of the contrabands be- 
came soldiers in the Union army, and are proving their right 
to be free by loyal devotion to the stars and stripes. 

The battle of Chancellorsville was fought May 2-3. An 
important part of Gen. Hooker's plan embraced a great cavalry 
raid on the rear of the rebel army to destroy their trains, rail- 
ways and bridges, burn up their army stores, and then sweep 
down to Richmond and capture it if found to be slightly de- 
fended. The plan was well laid, but badly executed. The 
cavalry was divided into two divisions of 4000 men each, and 
two batteries of flying artillery to each : one was commanded 
by Gen. Stoneman, with whom went the 12th Illinois, under 
Col. Davis ; the other division was commanded by Gen. Averill, 
with whom went the 8th Illinois, under Col. Gamble. The 
plan was, for the two divisions to cross the Rappahannock some 



MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 15 

distance apart, and form a junction at Gordonsville, and thence 
sweep forward towards Richmond on their grand raid. Mean- 
while Gen. Hooker would strike Lee's forces with the main 
body of his army. Stoneman crossed the Rappahannock, and 
pushed boldly for Gordonsville. Averill also crossed, and 
marched timidly forward until he reached a ford on the Rapi- 
dan, which was disputed by a couple of rebel regiments with 
two guns, and there he remained a day and a half, afraid to 
force his passage across, and then marched back, having ac- 
complished nothing. He remained idle all of the third day 
within three miles of the left flank of Stonewall Jackson's corps 
while it was whipping and driving Howard's 11th corps. There 
that splendid cavalry force lay supine, listening to the roar of 
the great battle going on within three miles, when, if it had 
pitched into the rebel flank, there is no doubt but that it would 
have changed the fate of the day, and converted a bad defeat 
into a great victory, for such an attack would have been wholly 
unexpected by the rebels. 

Stoneman ascribed the partial failure of his expedition to 
Averill's bad conduct, and Hooker deprived him of his com- 
mand. Instead of being dismissed the service, he was sent to 
Western Virginia and given another command ! In speaking of 
the disgraceful and supine part he and his brave regiment were 
made to play in the battle of Chancellorsville and the raid on 
Richmond, the Major always expressed regret and mortification. 

Shortly after this time he had a severe attack of bilious fever, 
aggravated by diarrhoea ; but a sound constitution and temper- 
ate habits, and his great anxiety to rejoin his regiment, carried 
him safely through. Lee's army had commenced its famous 
march on Pennsylvania, and Hooker's cavalry were constantly 
engaged with the rebel cavalry and picket forces, for the pur- 
pose of discovering the enemy's intentions. A hard cavalry 
fight took place, June 9, near Warrcnton Junction, in which 
Captain Smith and Major Clark were mortally, and Major 
Forsyth severely, wounded — all officers of the 8th Illinois. 
When Major Medill heard of the fight, he got up, sick as he 
was, ordered his horse, and started to join his regiment. The 
excitement and anxiety to take part in the actions caused his 



16 MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 

system to throw off the fever, and enabled him to do duty in a 
few days. He writes, June 10 : 

My sickness has not troubled me half so much as to be left behind my 
regiment when there is warrior's work to be done. I cannot submit to this 
fever, and shall mount my horse and join my regiment if it takes two men to 
hold me on. 

Shortly after, he joined the regiment and took part in the 
desperate cavalry contest at Aldie and Upperville, in which he 
greatly distinguished himself. On that occasion, the cavalry 
division of Gen. Buford encountered the rebel cavalry under 
Gen. Stewart. Col. Gamble's brigade, of which the 8th Illinois 
was the advance, charged on the rebel force drawn up in front 
of the Aldie Gap of the Blue Ridge. The 3d Indiana acted as 
skirmishers, and the 12th Illinois as supports. Early in the 
fight, Lieut. Col. Clendenin, who commanded the 8th Illinois, 
had his horse slightly wounded, and retired from the field. Maj. 
Medill, being next in rank, then took command, and, until the 
battle was won, behaved with a bravery, a skill and a gallantry 
that won the admiration of all who witnessed his conduct. In 
charge after charge he led his men on the rebel ranks, routing 
and scattering them. His regiment defeated, successively, two 
Virginia and one North Carolina cavalry regiments. His favo- 
rite weapon, in making a charge, was the revolver. He would 
dash his men right up to the rebel squadrons, who, in the melee, 
would unhorse scores of them with their sure and deadly six- 
shooters. He considered a sabre no match for two revolvers in 
a close encounter either with cavalry or infantry. In this en- 
gagement the 8th Illinois lost but 40 men — most of them being 
Avounded by sabre cuts, while they put hors du combat over 250 
of the enemy, besides capturing 100 prisoners. In the course 
of the fight, Major Medill captured the commander of the 11th 
Virginia Cavalry, with which his regiment was engaged at the 
moment. The incident is thus related by an eye-witness : 

While the Major was rallying his men, after one of our charges, I saw, at a 
short distance over the field, a rebel horseman, with drawn sword, chasing our 
Sergeant Major, who had got mixed up with the rebels. Major Medill, who 
happened to be near, put spurs to his big bay horse, and in a few bounds was 
close to the "reb.," who raised his sword aloft and shouted "surrender!" The 



MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 17 

Major brought his revolver to an aim, and was in the act of pulling the trigger, 
when the fellow dropped his sword and cried out, " Don't shoot, I surrender." 
He saved his life by just a second, as more than one bullet would have lodged 
in his body the next instant. The prisoner proved to be the Colonel of the 
11th Virginia Cavalry, and big enough in a fist fight to have whipped two of 
our Major; but on the field of battle, size confers but little advantage. 

Immediately after this cavalry battle, Gen. Hooker discovered 
that the rebel army was marching along the opposite side of the 
Blue Ridge, making for Maryland. He at once put his army 
on a forced march to head them off. The cavalry brigade, under 
Col. Gamble, consisting of the 8th and 12th Illinois, 3d Indi- 
ana, 8th New York, and a battery, led the advance, and reached 
Gettysburg on the 80th of June, and immediately charged on 
two rebel regiments occupying the place and drove them back. 
Next day, July 1, Buford's division of cavalry (including Gam- 
ble's brigade) lay in camp. July 2d, the bloody and terrific 
battle of Gettysburg began. The rebels advanced early in the 
morning to the attack. Gen. Reynolds' force — the 1st and 
11th corps — did not arrive on the ground until 9 a. m. For 
the three preceding hours, Buford's cavalry managed to hold 
the enemy in check by successive and rapid charges on their 
flanks, compelling them to halt and change line several times, 
and actually captured quite a number of prisoners, and inflicted 
on the rebels ten times the damage received. In these brilliant 
charges, the 8th Illinois was conspicuous for its audacity and 
success. Major Beveridge led the right — being the ranking 
officer, and Major Medill the left of the regiment. 

After the infantry came up, the 8th Illinois and its brigade 
were ordered to the left of the line, to prevent a flank move- 
ment on the part of the enemy. From that time until the battle 
ended, the brigade gave the rebel infantry great annoyance, 
materially retarding his advance, by making frequent, bold 
dashes at them. In this way, the 8th Illinois saved a whole 
brigade of infantry and a battery from being captured, by com- 
pelling one of the rebel surrounding lines to halt to repel the 
daring charge of the Illinois troopers, which enabled our infantry 
brigade and their battery to escape. 

After the great battle was over, and the beaten enemy com- 



18 MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 

menced their retreat, the two Illinois cavalry regiments began 
shooting- and slashing the rebel rearguard, capturing trains and 
taking prisoners, until Lee's army stood at bay at Williamsport 
and Falling Waters. In this pursuit those regiments captured 
over 2000 prisoners and 800 rebel army wagons, fighting with 
the enemy's rearguard almost at every mile of the distance. 

During this pursuit, the gallant Major pressed on the retreat- 
ing columns with all his vigor and energy, and looked forward 
with radiant hope to the moment when the further retreat of tl;e 
rebels would be stopped by the swollen waters of the Potomac. 
He felt sanguine that Meade's victorious army would attack 
without delay the broken and demoralized graybacks, now no- 
toriously short of ammunition and provisions. He believed the 
campaign was about ending with the total destruction of the 
invading host, and that the rebellion was on the eve of receiving 
its death-wound. Full of this belief, he urged on his comrades 
to strike boldly at the fleeing foe, and give them no rest until 
they laid down their arms. 

On the afternoon of July 6th, the Major's regiment reached 
the vicinity of the Potomac at Williamsport, ami there discovered 
the rebels engaged in building a bridge over the river to facili- 
tate their escape. The regiment and brigade charged at once 
on the enemy's pickets and drove them back, capturing a, large 
train of wagons, which were set on fire. Forty or fifty prisoners 
were also taken. The enemy were found to be in considerable 
force both of cavalry and infantry ; but it was deemed highly 
important to seize the bridge. A brigade of regulars took 
position on the right, and the cavalry on the left of the road. 
Gen. Buford ordered half the 8th Illinois to dismount and go 
forward as skirmishers. At the time the order was given, 
Major Medill was attending to some duty at a little distance. 
On his return, he learned that half of his regiment had gone 
forward under Capt. Hynes. He at once remarked to Major 
Beveridge that " a field officer should command the battalion. 
If you have no objections, I will go." Assent being given, he 
borrowed a carbine, mounted his horse, and spurred after his 
men. As soon as he reached them, he stepped in front of the 
centre and shouted, "Come on, boys;" and away the line swept 



MARTYRS AND HEROES OE ILLINOIS. 19 

through a field on a quick stop. At the opposite side of the 
field, behind a barn and some fences, were stationed a larere 
force of rebel infantry, who opened a heavy fire on the advanc- 
ing skirmish line. When the field had been more than half 
crossed, seeing a group of rebels in plain view but a short dis- 
tance ahead, the Major called on his men near him to give the 
fellows a volley, and raising his own carbine, took aim. At 
that instant, a minie ball struck him nearly in the middle of his 
body, making a frightful hole one and a half inches long by an 
inch wide, and of unknown depth. The ball passed through 
the lower edge of the breastbone, and slanting downwards, went 
through his lung and lodged somewhere near his backbone. He 
was soon borne from the field to the woods in the rear, and 
thence on stretchers a few miles to a church, where his wound 
Was examined by the surgeon of the regiment and pronounced 
mortal. He was next day conveyed to the army hospital at 
Frederick City, suffering greatly from the motion of the vehicle. 
Meanwhile, the battle went on until nightfall, neither party 
gaining much ground, when our men fell back. 

Capt. Waite, in a letter to his father, thus writes respecting 
the Major's fall : 

Major Medill went to the front and took charge of the three squadrons of 
dismounted men fighting as skirmishers. They moved forward at a quick step, 
and with a "hip," "hip," in the very best of spirits. In a few minutes the sad 
news came back to us that our noble Major was mortally wounded, and soon 
after several soldiers came slowly along, bearing in their arms the gallant officer. 
A ball had entered his breast, and we believed him past recovery. I cannot 
describe the sadness and gloom which this misfortune cast over the entire 
regiment and brigade. Officers and men all felt that we had met with a severe 
loss. The Major had been with us through many a hard fight. His conduct 
at the late desperate cavalry battle near Aldie, had particularly won for him 
the confidence and esteem of all the officers and men present. The gallantry, 
bravery and coolness displayed by the Major ou that occasion were very highly 
spoken of by all. His genial, kind-hearted and generous nature had made him 
a favorite with the officers of the regiment; while his integrity of character and 
strict discipline as an officer, had won our confidence and respect. There is 
not a man in the regiment but mourns his fall. 

As soon as he reached the hospital, his friends in Chicago 
were notified by telegraph of his wound. His eldest brother — 



20 MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 

editor of the Tribune, hastened to his side, and remained with 
him till death came. For the third and fourth days after 
receiving the wound he seemed a little better ; the pain had 
subsided, and he began to feel some hope of ultimate recovery. 
He conversed freely on all topics : made his will with com- 
posure, giving a number of keepsakes to his friends, but be- 
queathing to his mother the most of his property. On the sixth 
day, pain and inflammation increasing, he abandoned hope of 
recovery ; but from then until the hour of his death, he exhibited 
wonderful calmness and fortitude. The same fearless heroism, 
that had carried him triumphantly through many a fearful con- 
test with his country's foes, stood by him when brought to face 
the king of terrors, unaided by the excitements of the battle- 
field and the support of robust health. 

His fine physical constitution succumbed but slowly to the 
destroyer, and enabled him to survive ten days with a wound 
that would have proved fatal to most men in twenty-four hours. 
His mind at times was flighty, chiefly from the effects of the 
opiates administered. Still, he retained his consciousness until 
within fifteen minutes of his last breath. He expired, without 
pain or struggle, at 10 o'clock, July 16, 1863, surrounded by a 
large number of his beloved companions in arms, who wept over 
their dying comrade as bitter tears as if he had been their 
nearest of kin. 

While the Major lay in the hospital at Frederick, he would 
constantly inquire whether Meade had yet ordered an attack 
on Lee's beaten troops. His mind was in a state of feverish 
anxiety for the assault to begin, lest the enemy would escape 
across the river. Lee's army, he said, was wholly in our power, 
and it only required a little daring and enterprise on the part 
of Meade to capture or kill every rebel composing it. Oh ! for 
Joe Hooker, he would say ; if he commanded now, not a rebel 
would escape. 

At last, the bad news was brought to him that the rebels had 
escaped without a blow being struck at them. He was in agony 
at the information. "I wish I had not heard it," he exclaimed. 
" I am going to die without knowing that my country is saved 
and the slaveholders' accursed rebellion crushed. The capture 



MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 1^1 

of Lee's army would have ended the war in sixty days; now it 
may drag on for years. It was cowardice or weakness that let 
the rebels escape." He was greatly consoled, however, by the 
news that reached him of the capture of Vicksburg and Port 
Hudson, and the reported fall of Charleston. "Ah!" said he, 
"blood will tell; it takes the Western boys to handle the rebels." 

He deplored the hostility to the prosecution of the war evinced 
by "Northern Copperheads," as he called them, and declared 
that " there was more danger from a divided North than from 
both the rebellion and foreign intervention. Let the people of 
the Free States be united and stand together, and in the end 
they will triumph over all opposition, and reclaim every seceded 
State to the Union." 

In giving directions concerning his body and funeral, he said 
that he desired his remains embalmed, and dressed in the full 
uniform he wore when he fell on the battle-field ; that he desired 
the Rev. Robert Collyer to preach his funeral sermon, because 
he had declared that the soldier who died to save Liberty and 
Union, would himself be saved at the judgment-seat of Heaven. 
He also desired that he should be buried by the Chicago military, 
and that his remains should repose in Graceland Cemetery, be- 
cause it was under the control of Thos. B. Bryan, Esq., a true- 
hearted Union man, ami a zealous and devoted friend of the 
soldier. 

His requests were all strictly carried out. His pall-bearers 
were eight officers of his own rank. His remains were escorted 
from the depot, on their arrival at Chicago, to the residence of 
Joseph Medill, Esq., by the Chicago Zouaves, where the last 
sad rites to the noble hero were performed : they were escorted 
to the cemetery by a battalion of the 65th Infantry, under Col. 
McChesney, and the members of the Chicago Typographical 
Union, of which he had been a respected associate. At the 
cemetery, six volleys were fired by the escort, and the remains 
were deposited in the receiving vault. 

Our narrative is ended. We have hastily traced the career 
of one of the martyr heroes that Illinois has given for the sal- 
vation of the Union, and in the long roll, no nobler, braver, or 
truer patriot has sealed his devotion to his country by his heart's 



MARTYRS AND HEROES OF ILLINOIS. 



blood. He was an ardent, thorough devotee of Liberty ; his 
whole soul was in the holy cause of Union. Every energy of 
his nature was bent to the accomplishment of the success of the 
great cause. He was as fearless as his own sword, and as cool 
in the battle as on parade ; he set an example of gallantry, 
honor and integrity that won for him the esteem and confidence 
of all his companions, without incurring the envy or jealousy of 
any. We but reiterate the unanimous voice of his beloved 
regiment, the brave, old 8th Illinois Cavalry, in ascribing to 
him great executive ability as an officer wherever he had an 
opportunity to exhibit it, and in making the sad prediction 
that, had he lived, he would have won his way to high station 
and reputation in the army. He fell in the morn of life, full 
of promise — a courteous gentleman, a whole-souled patriot, and 
a brave soldier. 



w 



TESTIMONIAL FROM MAJ. GEN. PLEASANTON. 

The following letter from Major General Pleasanton, bearing 
testimony to the worth ami bravery of the late Major Medill, 
addressed to the brother of the deceased, may be gratifying to 
the numerous friends of that gallant officer. The writer is the 
able and popular commander-in-chief of the cavalry arm of the 

Potomac army. 

Headquarters Cavalry Corps, 1 

Army of the Potomac, December 13, 1863. j 
Joseph Medill, Esq., Chicago, Illinois: 

My Dear Sir: My varied duties have heretofore prevented the accomplish- 
ment of a long cherished desire on my part to communicate with you in refer- 
ence to the death of your brother. Major W. H. Medill, of the 8th Illinois 
Cavalry. He received a fatal wound while fighting most gallantly in front of 
our lines on the Antietam River, after having passed through the Gettysburg 
battle and campaign with honor to himself and to his regiment. I deeply felt 
his loss, not only to the service, but. as a friend and companion. 

Having been under my command during the past eighteen months, I had 
many opportunities of observing his fine abilities. His coolness, clear judg- 
ment and quick decision had already distinguished him on many occasions, 
and the future was fast opening to him a brilliant career, when his life was 
closed by a rebel shot. 

One remembrance occurs to me that it may not be out of place to mention. 
It was a year ago last October, when, with eight hundred cavalry and a battery 
of artillery, I started for Martinsburg, Va., to find myself opposed by four 
thousand rebel cavalry and two batteries. Your brother, the Major, com- 
manded my advance. We fought our way through to Martinsburg, inflicting 
a heavy loss on the enemy; and the Major showed so much intelligence, 
sagacity and military skill throughout the day, as to command my highest 
admiration. 

I cannot do justice to the memory or the service of your brother in a com- 
munication of this kind ; but I feel that some testimony of my appreciation 
of him might not be unacceptable unto you, more especially of our friendly 
attachment. 

Trusting I may have the good fortune to meet you hereafter, and with the 
assurance of my warmest sympathies in your afflicting bereavement, I remain, 
very respectfully and truly yours, A. Pleasanton, Major General. 



RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT. 

At a meeting of the Mercantile Literary Union of Chicago, 
held on the 25th of July, 1863, to take into consideration the 
decease of Major W. II. Medill, of the 8th Illinois Cavalry 
Regiment, occasioned by wounds received in the pursuit of the 
rebels after the battle of Gettysburg, Pa., the following resolu- 
tions were adopted : 

Resolved, That by the death of our late friend and associate, Major W. II. 
Medill, our Society has lost an active and efficient member, the community a 
worthy and energetic citizen, our country a brave soldier and pure patriot, 
and his sorrowing relations a warm friend and affectionate companion. 



Resolved, That we regard our departed friend as another sacrifice ofl'ered 
upon our country's altar, whose precious blood will assist in quenching the 
burning fires of rebellion and in re-uniting the bonds of our glorious Union. 

Resolved, That we deeply feel for those who are more nearly affected by this 
sad bereavement, and that we tender to them our heartfelt sympathy, hoping 
that they may be sustained in this their great trial by the memory of the 
glorious death of the departed, and the precious promises of the Christian 
religion. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented to the family of the 
deceased, and that they be published in the daily papers of the city and 
entered upon the records of this Society. 



The Chicago Typographical Union, No. 16, met on Saturday 
evening, July 25, 18(33, at their hall, and passed the following 
preamble and resolutions : 

Whereas, The Divine Ruler of the Universe has in his infinite wisdom called 
unto Himself, from the patriot army of the Potomac, Major W. H. Medill, one 
of its bravest and most honored officers ; and whereas, the said Major W. H. 
Medill, before the breaking out of this wicked rebellion, was a fellow crafts- 
man and member of this organization, respected for his manly worth, integrity 
and skill, loved for his pure, disinterested patriotism and great moral worth ; 
and since his connection witli the* defenders of the Union, honored for his 
bravery alike by us and other loyal citizens; and though our hearts are full 
of sorrow, we deem it a duty we owe the departed hero to publicly express 
our sympathy to his relatives, friends and brother soldiers, in common with 
us mourning the loss of him whose achievements gave such glorious promise 
for the future. Therefore, as a further tribute of respect, be it 

Resolved, That to his bereaved and sorrowing parents, brothers, sisters and 
other loved ones, we would, in this their time of mourning, tender our sym- 
pathies, and assure them that if their sorrow is deeper, it cannot be more 
heartfelt and sincere than ours. That though his place on earth is forever 
vacant, his memory will be kept green in the hearts of his brother craftsmen 
of Chicago. 

Resolved, That in the death of Major W. H. Medill, the Chicago Union has 
lost one of its most valued members — a printer, patriot, friend and Union man. 

Resolved, While with the 8th Illinois Cavalry we lament the loss of Major 
Medill and other of their brave comrades, so many of whom have "fallen with 
their faces to heaven, their feet to the foe." we would send to them words of 
cheer aud consolation; and if, in the providence of God, further sacrifices are 
demanded from their shattered ranks, let the remembrance of past heroic 
deeds of them and their gallant leader gone, fire their hearts anew and nerve 
their strong arms to fresh deeds of daring, to avenge their losses and make 
secure forever the salvation of the Republie; and if any of them should fall, 
may they have the pleasure that attended the last hours of our friend, of 
knowing that victory, to them as it was to him, is their reward, and that 
death is but promotion to the army of sainted patriots. 

Resolved, That this Union continue to wear the usual badge of mourning for 
thirty days. • 

Be it further Resolved, That Capt. D. J. Hynes, one of the several honorary 
members of this Union now connected with the 8th Illinois Cavalry, on his 
return to the regiment, be authorized to convey these resolutions to them, and 
to assure them that we, as citizens, sympathize with them in their sorrow's 
and glory in their victories. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented to the relatives of 
the deceased, and also^that they be published in ths Chicago papers. 



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